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Sanafir
Category: Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
1026 Granville StVancouver, BC V6Z 1L5
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
(604) 678-1049
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4:30 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for Sanafir
Review Highlights
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"The black pepper calamari with its lime aioli was a nice..." In 4 reviews -
"As for the Mezze Platter." In 4 reviews -
"Mediterranean Ribs:olive oil, parmesan, espelette,lime..." In 5 reviews
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Evilyn T.
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
It was girls night out, so we decided to come here on a Tuesday for half price tapas and drinks. Well, unfortunately not half price drinks, but we did enjoy them nonetheless. We were seated at a long table, like we were at a wedding reception, which was weird, since it wasn't super busy. I can understand the concept of sharing space with people I don't know if the place is rocking, but that wasn't the case. No one ended up sitting close to us, so it wasn't a big deal, but I thought it was weird nonetheless.
We ordered up some dranks, I had the mint cocktail, which was alrighty, and then I also tried their drink special, but I can't rememeber what it was, so it must have been pretty ok as well. We also ordered up a bunch of appies, such as the veggie pakoras, fired brussel sprouts and cauli, naan and hummus, and the potatas bravas (which were pretty boring). Everything else tasted great, and Luisa D. and I decided to split the mushroom risotto, which I wasn't super stoked for until I put it in my mouth. It was so delish! Usually I am not a big fan of mushrooms AT ALL, but this risotto was so creamy and not overpowering. I am totally coming back for a second helping with the BF!
One thing I really did like about the restaurant, apart from our weird seating, was the lighting and ambience. I think a lot of casual dinig places fail on this, but Sanafir had aced it. They had perfect modd lighting, and soft music, along with a wall of candles on one side - not sure if they were real or those electric ones you can get, but it cast a very mysterious and dark glow to the room which totally worked.
Sanafir, you rock! -
Review from Sanaz J.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2012
Let me start by saying I'm usually not a fan of big chains and cardboard recipe food but Glowbal is the only big, a relative term here, chain I have learned to like in Vancouver. Having a big family here in Vancouver means I get to indulge on great food for cousin's and other member's birthdays so when it was up to me to make the decision on where to go I picked Sanafir.
Having always walked by the place, from the outside you don't get a good impression of the ambience which is actually romantic and exotic. We were sitted upstairs on one of the Moroccan beds, which are separated by a see-through drap. The candle in the middle of a large tray is supposed to provide lighting for the food but doesn't do a good job of that. The high ceiling makes the acoustics in the room great as you can have a conversation without hearing anything from your neighbouring beds.
The waitress was great but not very informed about the menu and portion sizes so we ended up ordering too much food! we started off with a cheese and meat plate a mezza plate and the mushroom risotto. The most memorable item on the cheese plate was a sweet jam that was beet coloured. As for the Mezza sharing plate, the lamb bruschetta was delightful. Mushroom risotto was rich, but could have used a little more parmigiano reggiano. As for mains the butter chicken was sweet and aromatic but not the best I've had. The Moroccan lamb stew was absolutely amazing, the aroma of fresh lamb combined with tasty spices created a great dish. The presentation of all the dishes scored points with us. All the stews are in small metal bowls with warmers underneath them to keep the flavours untouched.
As for dessert we resorted to our tiramisu cake from an asian bakery in Coquitlam that was a delight. The server informed us that we would be charged if we wanted it cut so bring on the knife and forks for a DIY project:) -
Review from Bob P.
Vancouver, BC
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Luch, our bartender and waiter was fabulous and kept us entertained and well taken care of. Combined with excellent food and ambiance it made for one great dining experience. This is a good place to go with friends or with a date. The Mezze sampler platter is a good thing to get if it's your first time and you want to try a bit of some of their appy's/tapas. It'll easily serve three or four people unless everyone's hungry. They also have a cauliflower side dish that the Globall chain is known for.
Unless you get there early, you should make a reservation as this place can fill up. Five solid stars! -
Review from Kyle M.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
So i went to Sanafir for my very first time last night, and truthfully i'm not a huge fan of Glowbal group restos - but Sanafir was different. I'm not going to say it wasn't pretentious - with a harem-style room upstairs complete with leather beds - but it's just the right kind of pretentious that's fun and kinda sexy. The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. Drinks were served quickly, the staff was friendly, and the second i'd had duck proscuitto on fresh naan i was 100% sold. The food is sexy, and completely the thing i want to be eating with cocktails.
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Review from Dacre K.
4/18/2012
Kind of a typical loud trendy tapas place where women who watch Gossip Girl love to go. The food was good, albeit a little overpriced. Had the Mezze platter, which had some good things on it - ribs, lamb balls (can't remember the name for them). $25 for two people minimum. Music could have been a little lower.
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Review from Cyrus G.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've gone to this place a bunch of times (rarely my choice) and I just wish it was better.
What should you order? I'd recommend the Mezze platter.
There's nothing particularly wrong with any of the food -- I often leave content -- but considering the price, the quality and portions should be much better.
I don't know why anyone would go to this place over Nuba. Similar menu items, and prices but Nuba has a higher standard of quality.
The decor is nice too, even if it's a bit pretentious. -
Review from sara s.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2012
The food is great. Spicy and different from other restaurants, even the drinks!
Don't miss the platter, trust me.
The ribs are the best I have ever eaten in Vancouver!
But if you are looking for healthy options, not the place for you.
Servers are really friendly and attentive.
It is a bit dark in there which makes the ambiance relaxed but it energetic at the same time. -
Review from Bronwyn G.
North Vancouver, BC
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My suggestions for Sanafir: make a reso for supper on a Tuesday, order the Mezze Platter (order for 2 people if there are 3 at your table-- it will be more than enough), and order the grilled naan w/ hummus -- ask your server to double the naan but just one hummus.
I really enjoy Sanafir-- the interior really sets the mood for a cool night out, every Tuesday you get to take 50% off your food bill, and their mezze platter is fabulous for sharing.
One of my favourite salads in the city is served here. It's always right in the middle of their Mezze Platter and it is composed of arugula, watermelon, and blue cheese. The salad itself is called "watermelon & valdeon salad" and if I could order it by itself, I would! -
Review from Tamara H.
2/7/2012
A solid 3 star restaurant. The atmosphere is decent albeit a little hokey. My friend who came to dinner with me said she would kill herself if she had to work there and listen to the awful music all night.
The service was really good but the food was just fine. The meat & cheese platter was alright but nothing to write home about. We also shared the Ahi Tuna which was fine - it came with really phenomenal brussel sprouts though!
They are part of the glowbal group but they focus on sharing meals. There are so many restaurants in Vancouver with this concept now that have a bit better food that the whole time I was at Sanafir I was wishing i was at Salt or Au Petite Chavignol -
Review from Natasha R.
Surrey, BC
2/15/2012
The atmosphere and setup is great. Upstairs has a nice bed/lounge area where we met. The service and drinks were excellent. The entree were ok - calamari was made differently, but quite salty. The potato entree and salad was better. Didn't try the main course, but the butter chicken tray and presentation looked good.
Would go back and try the main course and skip the entrees. -
Review from Matthew B.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2012
I was searching for romantic date restaurants in Vancouver and Sanafir was consistently atop those lists - with good reason!
Book a bed for two upstairs and you'll be transported to a Moroccan-themed night club atmosphere with just the right mix of mood lighting, lounge music, good service, and privacy needed for an intimate date night. I booked through OpenTable and they followed the special directions perfectly and secured a romantic hideaway for my date and I.
While the prices are on par with other expensive restaurants in the area (and within the company that owns Sanafir and other clubs), take advantage of dining on Tuesday where the entire menu is 50% off!!
My date and I split the cured meat sampler and it was divine! For a meal, we split the mezze platter and that was great as well. The combinations (watermelon and Valencia cheese salad with pumpkin seeds / chorizo and quince paste and Manchego cheese) were well thought out and artistically executed. Everything was plated stylishly and our waitress definitely helped make it a romantic night, suggesting some delightful cocktails.
If you read some of the reviews on here, I can't help but shake my head. The restaurant is Middle Eastern, so idk why some people would expect a great butter chicken, or Spanish paella (which is a very complicated dish that when done right requires special ordering ahead). Stick with the dishes they do well and you'll have a great time.
Also of note, the kitchen is open quite late, for all my fellow night owls. -
Review from James W.
Division No. 6, AB
2/19/2012
Sanifir had great atmosphere, we were seated at a dining bed upstairs in a somewhat more private corner. The dining beds were leather and large enough to easily accommodate up to 6 persons, though with only two, it was quite romantic. Pillows are provided and were definitely needed as it took a little getting used to to position your body correctly while eating.
First course, crab cakes... A little mushy, the curry sauce was very flavorful... Nothing that I was too impressed about.
The braised pork belly was delicious, great flavor and an excellent texture A great amount of fat. There was a delectable crunch that was a perfect combination to the softness of the pork. The avocado mousse was great, but the coolness was not something that was complimenting, it should have been heated as opposed to chilled. The ravioli was a little bland in my opinion, as I think the pork belly was so good it over powered the yam ravioli. Presentation was great...
The scallop was quite tender as the roasted walnuts were a nice compliment. I wasn't a huge fan to the quinoa, and the one spot prawn which was artfully decorated to look like a spring roll was disappointing as it was cold. I'm sure it would have been satisfying had it been hot.
The marshmallow was too sweet and had nothing special about it. The gelee trio basil was fantastic. It was both refreshing and was like kissing a flower. No sugars to artificially sweeten it, it was a welcome change to my palate. The strawberry was great... It had this white chocolate ball on top that was filled with a fruit juice center; it was a great compliment to the strawberry. Finally the puffed rice chocolate bar was just too sweet.
Oh, and the lamb chops were phenomenal, tender, moist, and delicious, definitely a highlight!
Overall it was a very satisfying experience. The tapas were great and the desserts certainly left a lasting impression. As a tasting menu, it did well as the service in the restaurant was acceptable. Servers were prompt and knowledgeable about the food and provided timely attention.
Would I do it again, probably not as a regular occurrence, but it's definitely worth trying atleast once. Great job Sanifir. -
Review from Aaron M.
Edmonton, AB
2/25/2012
The atmosphere is decent and I really don't have any complaints about the food, but the service was disgraceful!
We were met with the most condescending hostess I've ever experienced in a restaurant. She rudely made sure we knew that we had no more than 1 hour and 35 minutes to vacate our tables as a group had reserved that area beginning in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Everyone in our 10 person party commented on how rude she was. The service was a little slow. About 15 minutes before our time limit was up (!) a host kept on wondering by us, standing, and checking his watch.
The worst part came at the end, though...
As we neared our "deadline", the restaurant begin showing the next party to upstairs and allowed them to stand around us while we finished eating and paid! We were practically pushed out of our seats and had to push our way through the next reservation to make our way out. Even some of our food went uneaten!
I have never witnessed such horrible behaviour from a restaurant before and would not recommend this establishment to anyone. -
Review from Gretchen C.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
the dine out menu was only $18! great tasting food, although the guys my roommate and i were with complained about how small the portions were... honestly, i thought it was a perfect serving size, because it was filling, but you didn't get STUFFED to the point you were in a food coma, couldn't breathe, and felt like you were about to give birth any second.
i had the butter chicken, and the prawns for the appetizer... both really good.
the service was excellent too - our waitress was actually really cool and honest with us, because we were about to get the wine pairings that came with dine out but she warned us that they weren't full glasses of wine (lame) and told us it was more economical to get a bottle to split, which is what we ended up doing.
i love the ambiance - very comfortable and relaxed, but upscale and lounge-y at the same time. we were seated upstairs at one of those japanese-style tables that felt like you were in the ground, but there were also beds available, which would be great for a romantic date. -
Review from Erin T.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2011
Super sub-par experience. The long and short of it was this:
We ended up sitting upstairs where it was super uncomfortable and way too crowded for us to actually order a decent amount of food. Aside from the nice decor, we felt really rushed to order. I got a glass of water that had floaties, but the waitress wasn't around for me to get another. I managed to order one drink, and was never asked again if I wanted another. Our order got screwed up (and the only "good" thing I can say is that we weren't charged for her mistake). We got part of our food super early, and then 10 minutes later the condiments for that dish came. The music got so loud half way through dinner that we could barely talk to one another. The food was OK - really not that great at all. The lamb kofta was decent. The mediterranean ribs were ridiculously salty. The pakora tasted overdone and almost burnt. The shortrib crustini was on the soggiest white bread ever.
The kicker for me was the 18% mandatory gratuity added since we had a table of 8 - thanks for mentioning it. I would have tipped 10% if she was lucky. Basically, the crappiest $40 meal I've ever experienced.
I'll try somewhere else next time. -
Review from Annie W.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Another "mostly miss" by the Glowbal Group for me. Sure the decor is pretty nice, and back in 2006 the whole beds upstairs added a sexy dining element that was no where to be found in the city. Service is excellent, too bad the food doesn't hold up.
In the Mezze Platter...
Calamari & Veggie Pakora's - superb & delicious, I'll say that much.
Tuna Confit Costini - a joke, just call it what it is, tuna salad on bread.
The rest, not comment worthy.
Roasted Garlic & Tomato Clams - tastes like tomato paste.
Vegetarian Mushroom Risotto - tastes like salt.
Decent option for Tuesday nights - all food is 50% off.Listed in: Yelp 30 Day Challenge 2011
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Review from Meana k.
12/10/2011
Decor/Ambiance - 5 stars
Service - 4 stars
Food - 3 stars
Prices/Value - 3 stars
I went with a group of girls who had suggested we go on a Tuesday which offers 50% menu prices. We reserved our table via OpenTable a few days in advance and had a great spot enjoying a nice view of the restaurant's interior from upstairs. Our server was excellent -- he was attentive and friendly. His only knock was that he never once mentioned the 50% off menu to us.
In my opinion, the tapas were really large portions and a person probably couldn't eat more than 2-3. A friend and I shared the mezze platter for $24.95 per person (before discount) and got to try seven of the tapas. We added one more tapa we couldn't get on the platter, and ultimately couldn't finish our food. The portions on the platter are smaller than what you would get if you ordered the tapa itself.
Duck Prosciutto was good although the fried leeks part of it was not memorable.
Ling Cod Pakora was pretty good, although a little greasy.
Mediterranean Ribs were good -- salty and drier than I was expecting but tasty.
Black Pepper Calamari was good.
Lamb Kofta was good.
Braised shortrib crostini was only okay.
Tandoori Prawn -- only okay.
Watermelon and Valdeon -- only okay. Maybe this would be better in season.
Tuna Confit Crostini was okay.
So, overall, the food was good at 1/2 price but I wouldn't pay full for it. I enjoyed the atmosphere and would go again, but I certainly won't mark this as a favorite place to go. -
Review from Nicolle H.
Waterloo, ON
3/11/2012
This restaurant was fantastic. Great ambience. Delicious food. A bit overpriced.
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Review from Bobbin W.
10/9/2011
Some clearly cool locals steered my boyfriend and me to Sanafir for a reasonably priced, nice dinner. We left stuffed, reeking of Mediterranean breath and not broke.
I began with a seasonal cocktail that included crushed blueberries, a perfect refreshing toast to the tail-end of summer.
Our table quickly overflowed with an array of tapas, including:
* lamb kofta over a bed of mint and parsley couscous
* ahi tuna interestingly sliced atop roasted cauliflower, bacon, olives and a mustard vinaigrette
* steamed mussels in a spicy tomato broth - one of the standouts of the evening
* grilled naan bread with hummus - Naan is like salt; it's a dietary staple.
* fried Brussels sprouts - This was the highlight of the night. The amazing melding of olive oil, parmesan and lemon would make anyone a Brussels sprout lover.
The ambiance, food and service were solid all around. Plus it was within walking distance to our hotel: L'HoJo. -
Review from Dru C.
10/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Wow, this place is one of favourite places for sure!! I can't really say anything REALLY bad about this place. But overall to the point I am dropping a 4 star review, it is totally worth going!!
The best thing about this place is that they have 50% off Tuesdays, beds, patio and large tables? Yes this place is totally worth it.
The best thing about coming here are the beds and the large parties that you can have, especially it being down town, it is hard to find places that can fit 10+ and have great food and a great time.
I came here for a friends birthday party, organized by yours truly of course. I went inside and instantly the hostess was very attentive of me holding a cake and said, reservations? And then attempted to take the cake away from me. It was a large cake as we have a large party and then she escorted me and my group to the 2nd floor of the large party bed room.
The food here is only average for me, as their menu is considerably small for my taste. The food was a tad salty where I came here with my friends, and it really didn't speak to me as being flavourful. I don't mind as it is half price food, but still having flavour is very important especially when it is a place under the Globawl franchise.
I did enjoy the most were service, and the decor of the place a lot. The food was sub par, but overall I enjoyed it regardless as it was a very decent price.
I will come again for great times and great service :DListed in: Yelp's 30 DAYS of AWESOMENESS, Dru's Night Life~
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Review from Sara D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 11/15/2011
So we returned with a group of 10 for a birthday, and my fears of hit or mis-ness were confirmed.
The group ordered a lot of food so they had plenty of chances of showing us delicious. Me and the birthday boy ordered two tapas and paella. Tapas were just OK. The paella was like steamed rice instead of fried, it was not very good at all, my boyfriend loves food but he didn't even finish it.
My friend had mussels and they were off. She ate a few of them then told he waiter he could take them away, he did, no questions asked, even though over half of it was uneaten. I told him when he came back and at least he took it off the receipt.
The waiter was bad in other ways too. A group of 10 of us, and he would only come by once every 20 minutes. And when he did, he would bring something to the table then scurry off... literally had to be like HEY WAIT could I get another drink over here.
The food is not worth the price. And sure it was like 9pm when the food was coming out which is kinda late and it was getting busy, but hey, if you can't handle it then don't take a reservation for 10 people at 830pm.
Not worth it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/6/2011
Place itself is really nice, but I'd agree that based on what you order it's quite hit or miss. The… Read more »
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Review from AJ M.
2/27/2012
My wife and I live in Southern California and went to Vancouver for a business trip. We ate here our 3rd night there and were so taken we made reservations immediately for a few days later. This is quite honestly the best restaurant experience I have ever had. I would recommend this to anyone traveling to Vancouver, I may actually recommend traveling to Vancouver for this restaurant. Outstanding decor, our 2nd time there we ate on a dining bed. The drink menu was amazingly unique. We had the calamari which was the best I have ever had. The lamb tagine was outstanding, so was the butter chicken. I wish they would open a restaurant in San Diego so I could go there every week.
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Review from Mark F.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service was odd with a very amped up waiter who was always there when not needed and MIA when required.
Smacked on the grilled octopus which was ok, the tandoori prawn with great flavor and size and the scallop chiveche which was also ho hum.
Sanafir should be shared with a large group more focuses on pounding cocktails rather than a quality dining experience. The booze will flow as the conversation grows the concentration will be on you and not the food.
I don't need to go back. At least I had great company to get me through it. -
Review from Erin U.
1/4/2012
I really cant say anything bad about it!! Had reservations for new years eve at 630 pm, when we arrived we were seated upstairs(which has awesome lounge beds) instead of downstairs(regular hard seats) and our group of 8 were very comfortable. Got some ont he house drinks brought up within 10 minutes of sitting, and just glancing at the menu I knew I was going to love it. Its a great place to share dishes and appies. I left completely stuffed, everything we ate and all the drinks were amazing, the food is served beautifully and the entire ambience of the place was great. I will definitely be going back!! Also on tuesdays they have all food half price I hear so I will def go on a tuesday! Stoked, found a great new place near my house :-) go to there. Also our server arezou was amazingly on the ball and did a great job!
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Review from austen m.
Vancouver, BC
11/30/2011
This place is overrated. The interior decor is nice, but if you're a serious foodie, avoid it or only go on Tuesdays because of their 50% off. The food was absolutely not worth the regular price of $16-20 per main.
Sanafir's Paella is nowhere near as good as La Bodega's. The Butter Chicken lacked cream, leaving an overly rich non-buttery flavor (This reminded me of a particular butter chicken jar from Safeway).
The worst of this experience was that the rice was cold so when I took in a mouthful of (candle-heated) butter chicken, the full bite was room temperature.
To be fair, maybe their staff were pressed because of the 50% off deal night? -
Review from Hilda L.
6/15/2011
Bring your date here, request a Moroccan-style bed upstairs, cuddle up while you wine and dine, and guarantee she'll swoon :)
Better yet, come on a Tuesday (but pretend you didn't know), when everything on their food menu is 50% off. Yes everything, including dessert, which you can choose 3 for $11 - and that is before the discount!
Food: 3*
Ambiance: 5*
Service: 3*
Value: 4* -
Review from Vincci L.
Beds, patio, or regular tables?
Three different environments to sit in, all with their own benefits.
Come here on Tuesday, where everything is 50% off (not including drinks.)
Food here is a hit and miss. I think I've been here enough times to know what's good and what's not so good. What to order:
Ahi Tuna: roasted cauliflower, bacon, olives,mustard vinaigrette. Yes. Bacon. Essentially a bacon/ brussel sporut cauliflower stir fry, with pieces of ahi tuna on top.
Mediterranean Ribs:olive oil, parmesan, espelette,lime, crisp fried herbs. Try it. You won't be disappointed.
Black Pepper Calamari:wok fried, cracked black pepper,with lime aioli. Large pieces of squid, deep fried. So good.
Desserts here are 3 for $11. Share some. The Espresso pot de creme is my favourite.
Service here has been consistently good, and I've always had a good experience here. -
Review from Edward L.
Fine dining is not exactly my area of expertise, so take this review with a grain of salt.
It's one of those typical "trendy" joints where everything's painted black, and people go to be seen. The decor is nice with the stone tables, but it was so loud in there I couldn't hear a damn thing.
Yes, the food is freaking good. Yes, it's also ridiculously overpriced. Yes, I wanted to go to Burger King afterwards.
The Paella Valencia was pretty delicious. It had large prawns and mussels (you have to pick the bits out as the rice is mashed in everywhere). My usual complaint? The portion is freaking TINY.
As for the Mezze Platter.. now this is what I am talking about. I don't even know what I ate as it was too freaking dark inside to see, and it was so loud I couldn't even hear what the waitress was saying when she explained the items. So, take a look at my picture. There was a salad with some chickpeas and 1 random shrimp, some Calamari, some onion rings (?), ribs, mystery things piled onto bread slices, and another salad that contains watermelon slices (everyone thought it was tomato). The variety is pretty good. Too bad it also costs freaking $25 per person, with a 2 person minimum. It looked big, but again, my friends and I polished it off like nothing. Everything tasted like normal mystery fare, except for the ribs, which had some really interesting cheese (?) topping.
For drinks, we had the Sanafir Lager. It's an in-house beer that tastes like a slightly better version of Canadian. Except that this is supposed to somehow justify the $20 pitcher.
3 last things worth mentioning:
1) They charge 18% gratuity on groups of 6 or more. NOT 8. wtf. Don't say I didn't warn you.
2) As Sanifir is part of the Globall group of restaurants, you can burn up those Glowball gift cards. Not sure if this location sells 'em, but on a Monday you can go to IK2GO and buy these cards (any value of your choice) at a 20% discount. So, plan ahead and save yourself a few bucks.
3) the booklet your bill comes in has these postcard-looking cards. The bottom has a tearaway strip that is good for 1 free appy for your next visit.
I guess if you need to impress a superficial date, then you can come here. Honestly I felt ripped off (as with most fine dining places), but to give them credit, the food really was good. Just not $50 good. -
Review from Betty L.
6/30/2011
I went to Sanafir with a group of girls and all of us had a really nice time. The decore is Moroccan style with a modern twist. Although I find the upstairs to be a bit too dark. Aside from that, the food and service was awesome.
Our server was friendly and was able to keep everyone's bill separate. Food came out pretty quickly and was pretty tasty. Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Jacob K.
Updated - 6/15/2011
The food is only surpassed by the service. A culinary and gastronomical delight. The braised short ribs were the highlight of the night - oh so sweet and tantalizing. The flavours dance all over my tastebuds. The black pepper calamari with its lime aioli was a nice light and delightful dish. Three small dishes and the lamb tagine kept the two of us nicely satiated.
When it appeared that I spilled some of the ailoli on my suit pants, the manager, Andrew, rushed over and offered to bring me soda water. I could not ask for better service than that.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/28/2011
Normally a big fan of the tapas division of Glowbal Group, but the Dine Out menu was a huge… Read more »
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Review from Niko D.
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went there with my family after cirque du soleil. The place was very well adorned and high ceilings with cool ambiance. We ordered a Mezze Plater with:
mediterranean ribs - awesome dry ribs..very tasty
lamb kofta - very good
black pepper calamari - cooked well and seasoned nicely
grilled tandoori tiger prawns
braised shortrib crostini
tuna confit crostini
watermelon & valdeon salad - Unique and excellent flavors in the chick peas
I couldn't quite put my finger on a lot of the spices. The medley of flavors and textures really jumped out at me. The chef came out and even gave us the recipe for one of the dishes.
It is an excellent place to go on a date or gathering. The private rooms are a nice touch with the floor seating and lighting -
Review from Brittany G.
Vancouver, BC
1/26/2011
Trendy place to come with a group before hitting a club or lounge. Modern-fusion food and decor, Glowbal Group has a great formula.
It's less of a straight-up culinary experience, so be sure that your equation includes alcohol or lounging of some sort.
Friday or saturday night fun: drinks and Butter Chicken on the patio while watching the drunken granville st clubbing crowd plod by! -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
10/5/2010
If you're looking for a trendy restaurant to share some tapas with friends or have a few drinks before you hit up a lounge or club, Sanafir is perfect for this. Not only is the social scene always vibrant, its in the centre of all the Granville action.
Atmosphere. Sanafir is a hotspot that attracts socialites and groups of friends looking for a good night out. Like all the Glowbal restaurants, you can expect modern sexy decor, decent-to-delicious food, and a trendy vibe set with house beats in the background. The front patio seating along Granville is open in Spring, Summer and part of Fall. The dimly lit lounge is set with booths and tables, and accommodates small tables for two to large groups. Upstairs is sexy. Beds are to be shared ;)
Food. Small tapas-style plates ($5-7/each) and large platters ($15-20). The menu items are tasty with flavours from North Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and India. To recommend a few: Mediterranean Ribs, Lamb Kofta, Halibut Pakoras, Tandoori Tiger Prawns, Ahi Tuna, Patatas Bravas, Short Rib Dolmathes. Lol, I've probably had a taste of all the tapas items by now, and honestly think it's all pretty decent, but no one item stands out to me. The white sangria is great as well.
Service. The hot staff provides okay service. I went with friends twice in the past 2 weeks and the service was okay. When it's busy, I don't mind if food takes a while, but it's nice to get some drinks within the first 15-20 minutes. Didn't happen. They also forgot to remove the cream dressing and goat cheese from two different menu items for my friend who was lactose-intolerant. They're usually good with this.
Other notes:
- Aside from SIP, it's probably the busiest restaurant along Granville, so make resos if you're going after 7pm.
- On weekends, music is loud. Not the best for deep convos.
- No heaters for patio seating.
- Check their blog for cocktail happy hours, tapas specials, etc.
- Tapas aren't served 3 ways anymore (ie. ribs flavoured BBQ, honey garlic, and Mediterranean). Hope they bring this back sometime!
Places with a similar crowd/atmosphere/vibe: SIP Resto lounge, Global Afterglow, Ginger 62 -
Review from Andy C.
New Westminster, BC
6/17/2011
This is an amazing Place
i had a party of 30 booked up stairs on the beds we all paid 20. and they just kept the food coming all night. Staff kept our drinks full and the sweet thing about this place is its such a social setting. We bounced around and the servers had no issue keeping track of our individual bills....love this place and the belly dancer was sweeeeeet!!!! -
Review from May P.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2011
I would not recommend Sanafir for the current dine-out menu, it wasn't great at all. I chose Prawns to start and Salmon for the main, the Prawn dish was ok but the Salmon was very dry with no flavour at all.
For desert we had a small piece of dry chocolate cake and no offer of Tea or Coffee.
I can't comment on their normal menu as my dine-out experience was my first experience at this restaurant. The restaurant itself is beautiful and I would like to try it again another time as the decor is so impressive. Try it again after I have tried other places that is!
It is the type of restaurant you come dressed up before going to a club at the weekend or a hot date during the week.
My question to Sanafir is 'if you're not going to impress with your menu during dine-out why do it at all'
Next time I will stick to Coast, yes it might be more expensive but I never leave disappointed! -
Review from Jean-Sébastien G.
12/10/2010
The food is really good, portion a little small for the price it is.
The music is WAY TOO LOUD for a restaurant. Our waitress was losing her voice. It would be a good place for a club, but it is not setup like it.
The food is not typically Arabic even though the sign is Arabic. -
Review from Melody M.
2/13/2011
I like the decor of this place and the entertainment. The downstairs tables were a bit too narrow and crowded, but the upstairs had really cool beds to lie on. There was also a very pretty belly dancer entertaining the guests !!!!
The staff was very courteous, good selection of wine, a fair selection in the menu and presented nicely.
Definitely need to go back here for another taste of the food. -
Review from David F.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2010
I got to say, I enjoyed the experience, but not exactly for the food. It's such a great room and the menu is quite interesting, but the food feels like a bit of a put on. Like, it's all about the idea of this place rather than the authenticity. It's like having a chicken curry at Earls. Yeah, it's good, but it's not the real deal.
Service was decent, but the servers appear to be run off their feet. Like they clearly need to hire a couple more. The tables have this odd cut out in the middle which cause things to keep falling over. Put a drink down without too much care and sploosh. The host put a couple of menus down on a table on top of candles and set them on fire. That was fun!
So the food. The halibut pakora was mostly deep fried onion wiht bits of fish and quite greasy. The calimari was way too salty. The naan with hummus was good. The paella was pretty good and a nice portion. The halibut ceviche was shockingly small. Just a couple of bites.
The lamb Tagine promised so much. Dates, roasted garlic... Yum. It was tasty and tender, but a little less exciting than I had hoped. It really didn't appear to have anything to do with an actual Tagine, but it was served in a brass bowl with a candle under it. Kind of a fake tagine.
But wait! We had dessert. This was the absolute highlight. It was a selection of amazing tastes. Original, interesting and outstanding. Fabulous finish to an okay dinner.
As I say, I enjoyed the whole experience, but too bad the food isn't just a little better. -
Review from Pamela L.
8/12/2010
This is a beautiful restaurant and I always bring out of towners here to marvel at this gem. The upstairs is just gorgeous with it's long low profile communal table and harem-like decor. It's a very sexy place, I must say.
Sanafir has improved a great deal both with their service and their food. Our server was pleasant and friendly. Though she didn't know much about the food (she explained that she was new) her colleagues were more than happy to answer our questions.
The first couple of times I went I didn't care for the food, as I felt it lacked flavour and was all presentation but no substance. I believe they have worked out the kinks. The beef tapa trio wiped the skepticism from my hungry face. A huge fan of ravioli, the oxtail ravioli did not disappoint. The meat was soft and flavourful and the sauce was mild enough to serve as a companion rather than a mask to the pasta. I appreciated the mushrooms with the masala flavoured short ribs as it gave an earthy flavour that balanced out the savoriness of the spices.
My only let down was the Spicy Green Beans and felt that it was too sweet. I think a common mistake is the over usage of hoisin sauce which causes these dishes to taste like molasses. -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
10/1/2010 2 photos
A friend turned 45 and had the whole place stuffed with people to celebrate! I had a great time but I wonder if the service may have been affected by such a large and rowdy crowd?
Our little group chose the patio seats which were heated (the best seats since we got to see all the action going on inside!). Our server was pleasant but a little on the slow side (again, could be due to the party size). Sometimes it got a little confusing when our dishes came out because the server would never know who it was supposed to go to.
I decided to go with 2 tapa dishes: tandoori prawn salad with chickpeas and ahi tuna with roasted cauliflower, bacon, olives in mustard vinaigrette.
the prawn salad was a little disappointing. the tandoori flavour extremely light which left the prawn almost tasteless. the ahi tuna, on the other hand, was absolutely brilliant!! everything about it was delicious, i cleaned that plate! I think I could`ve gone for 2 more of the ahi tuna and would`ve been very happy. =)
the restaurant was pretty cool because my friend had a belly dancer in the middle of the party that danced on the tables (don`t know if that was part of the restaurant deal...?) plus he got to play his movie he directed overseas on the bigscreen for all of the guests!
It was a bit of a gongshow trying to get the bill to pay for our food..but successful party nontheless!
